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Letters: Green science

Published 10 July 1993

From
A. R. D. STEBBING

The existence of environmental capacity assumes that some contaminants have
no undesirable effects, that each environment has a finite capacity to
accommodate some wastes without unacceptable consequences and that this
capacity can be quantified and utilised. The precautionary principle
requires action to limit polluting emissions even where there is no
scientific evidence to prove a causal link between emissions and effects.
Recently it has been tied to a shift in the burden of proof to the polluter,
requiring demonstration of harmlessness of inputs before release and a
commitment to the concept of zero discharges.